Introduction to Earth Science
Prof. Dr. Ziad Abu-Hamatteh
Faculty of Engineering Technology
Al-Balqa Applied University
Civil Engineering Department
What is Earth Science?
• All sciences seek to understand Earth and its neighbors in
space.
• Therefore, it includes: geology, oceanography,
meteorology, and astronomy
• Geology is traditionally divided into two broad areas:
physical and historical
Physical Geology
and Historical Geology
• Examine materials making up the Earth and seek to
understand the many processes operating beneath and
upon its surface.
• It is a dynamic ever changing planet due to internal
forces that create earthquakes, mountains, volcanoes
etc. and external processes like weathering, erosion,
formation of a diversity of landscapes.
• Rocks and minerals form in response to these
processes;
• Therefore, their interpretation is essential to
understand our planet.
Historical geology
aims to understand the
origin and development of the planet
Earth and its life through its 5.2 b.y. history.
The Earth is divided into four spheres:
• Hydrosphere: the global ocean gives the Earth its
blue color = blue planet
• Atmosphere: 90% lies in the 16 km. essential for
the development of life;
• Biosphere: all life forms from ocean floor to
mountain tops.
• Solid Earth: divided into three major shells.
The solid rock is being weathered, and
eroded by the interaction of three spheres !
The Solid Earth
Earth as a system
• Interaction of the four spheres of the Earth
makes up the Earth System
• For a better understanding of the Earth System
we have to fully understand each individual
part (subsystem) and how they interact.
• Processes in these subsystems are powered by
two sources of energy = Sun and from within
the Earth’s interior.
Geologic time Scales Size
mountains
Atoms
Time
Millions of years
Seconds
Some geologic features take
millions of years to form
Others take seconds!
What is Geology
